Though we try our hardest to eat healthy on a regular basis, we still have our little weaknesses when it comes to certain foods — namely the crispy, crunchy, fried variety.

I know, shame on us. Sorry but french fries are just one of those indulgences we can’t seem to say ‘no’ to. I’m sure we’re not alone here. Darn you Mickey D’s! haha.

Honestly, if I could quit eating fried foods, I most certainly would considering the health issues they can create. It’s just not that easy. In all sincerity though, I don’t necessarily like the taste of grease or the way it feels in the roof of my mouth. I think what truly whets my palette is the crunchy consistency. It’s like having an appetite for a salty & sweet combination. Sometimes my taste buds want something that makes noise when I eat it. Does that sound crazy? haha!

The major issue I have with fried foods (besides the actual taste) is the calories. Oh my! Just the thought of it is enough to add pounds to my hips. Blah!

WELL, NO MORE!!!

Thankfully I was recently introduced to Hammacher Schlemmer, an online retailer that offers a wide variety of unique gifts, gadgets, and electronics that are perfect for even the finickiest person on your holiday list.

After spending what seemed like hours days shopping their website I found a product that not only whet my appetite for cooking, but would provide healthier versions of the foods we love to nosh on so much — the T-fal Actify fryer. It’s said to be the healthiest deep fryer available. And of course I HAD to give it a try. You know little ole me!

Once this cool product showed up at my door I couldn’t wait to test it out. But, first things first, you need to read the manual. That’s my rule. hehee! I want every dish I serve to be tasty so obviously I’m going to make sure I use a new cooking vessel properly.

The Actifry is quite a unique small kitchen appliance. And the number one reason I wanted this bad boy is… it requires little to no cooking oil (up to 1 tablespoon — that’s it!). AWESOME!

I was highly thrilled with the ease of use. I mean there truly is no guess work here at all. You just remove all of the packaging, clean the removable parts, dry, and you’re ready to go.

STEPS TO USING THE ACTIFRY:

Press one of the lid release buttons located in the front of the fryer. Either one will do.

Next, insert your food (up to 2 pounds), spreading the ingredients evenly around the internal paddle, making sure not to go above the maximum fill line located on the side of the paddle. Depending on the food you are preparing, you may or may not need oil. Just to be sure if it’s necessary, check the owners manual or cookbook that’s included. On my first use I made frozen french fries. Simple, I know but I wanted to make sure this product did exactly what it’s advertised to do first before using a variety of ingredients.

After your food is inside, close the lid. Then push the timer button to set the required time. For my frozen french fries it took 30 minutes. Yes, that’s longer than a traditional deep fryer but you’ll see why later. Keep reading!

Once the timer has been set, press the “on” button and the fryer is activated. You’ll notice the internal paddle begin to slowly turn the food around and around in the nonstick basin as the vessel heats up. In no time you can smell the aroma from the food. Mmm… I smelled potato-ey goodness, NOT that stinky oil.

There are some truly great features that I can’t help but mention here:

One, if for some reason you need to open the lid, the fryer shuts off. That’s a great safety feature!

And two, you don’t get grease splatters like you do with traditional fryers. Plus, no burns from grease, steam or the outer portion of the fryer. I don’t know about you but those are huge selling points for me. I honestly hated my old fryer due to the horrible grease mess that was left behind, not to mention the countless times I was burned from grease upon inserting the food, touching the outer sides or lid. Or even being scalded by the hot steam that was released once I removed the lid to flip the food (for even doneness) or remove it altogether so we could eat.

Well, with the Actifry, not once was I burned or scalded. And there’s no disgusting grease mess to clean from your counters or cabinets — the tiny amount of grease (if you use any) is completely absorbed into the food. HUGE thumbs up for that!

1.) Set the timer 2.) Press the ‘on’ button3.) The paddle rotates the food 4.) The timer buzzer goes off once the food is done

Speaking of messes, this baby is super easy to clean– oh my. I must mention that every removable piece is dishwasher-safe. — the lid, paddle, fryer bowl, and filter. Woohoo! You can’t put a traditional fryer in the dishwasher so over time that grease build up looks disgusting.

I’m really loving this fryer. I mean it cooks a wide variety of foods, in a much healthier way and you still get the crisp crunch you desire from fried foods — only they taste MUCH better. My seasoned (frozen) french fries came out nice and crispy on the outside and soft and moist on the inside. YUM!

1.) The food slides right out 2.) Look at the crunchy crumbs left behind 3.) Check out the crunchiness

So, how does it cook crispy dishes without oil? The Actifry contains an internal convection oven that heats to 338-degrees and evenly circulates hot air to cook potatoes, chicken, fish, even fruits as the small amount of oil is absorbed into the food — leaving you with the same crunchy exterior and moist interior you get with those conventional deep fryers. Except all you see and taste is the food, without all the dripping grease. It’s much more appetizing.

I’m actually saving money now because I’m not having to buy and use 2 1/2 large bottles of oil after every 3 uses. And, I don’t have to try to find a way to dispose of the unwanted soiled grease once it’s spent. Yuck!

I can’t say enough how much I love this fryer. There’s just SO many benefits you get. I can’t imagine going back to that old grease pit. No way!

BUY IT!

The T-fal Actifry (healthiest deep fryer) which measures 9.5″ H x 12.5″ W x 16.5″ D retails for $299.99 and can be purchased directly at www.hammacher.com. Includes a recipe book and measuring spoon.

This product would make an awesome gift for the health conscious person on your holiday shopping list or those who are looking for healthier ways of cooking and eating. I highly recommend it!

~ All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer for more information. I did not receive financial compensation for my post but did receive the product(s) mentioned above free of charge from the manufacturer or PR Agency and was under no obligation to write a positive review. ~

Have you tried anything else beside the fries? Wondering if you can do chicken in it.. I can’t believe how golden brown the fries turned out.. I agree with you, so much easier and cheaper on the oil and having to store the oil for the next use.

Karen, I haven’t yet due to all of the cooking and baking I’ve done for the holiday but plan to make more. You can definitely cook more than just french fries in this, including meats. It’s more of a cooker rather than just a fryer. And it comes with a cookbook.